title: Effects of environmental lead pollution on blood lead and sex hormone levels among occupationally exposed group in an E-waste dismantling area.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of environmental multi-media lead pollution on blood lead and sex hormone levels among lead exposed males engaged in E-waste dismantling, and the correlation between confounding factors and sex hormone levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  An E-waste dismantling area in Taizhou of Zhejiang Province was selected as the research site. One hundred and fifty two samples were collected from the groundwater, soil, rice, corn, chicken, and pork in the dismantling area. The effects of the multi-media lead pollution on the male blood lead and sex hormone levels of FSH, LH, and T, as well as the correlation with confounding factors, were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The blood lead concentrations in the males aged under 31, from 31 to 45 and from 46 to 60 were 98.55, 100.23, and 101.45 μg/L, respectively. Of all the environmental media lead exposures, the groundwater, rice and soil were main contributing factors to the lead accumulation in humans. FSH and LH levels increased with the age while the T levels decreased with the age instead. There was a significant correlation between the FSH and LH levels and wearing masks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was correlation between the FSH, LH, and T levels, and the mean values of lead concentrations in environmental media, and the sex hormone levels were correlated with the confounding factor of wearing masks.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental & Safety Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao Song
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Ding Long
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yun Jiang
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007854:Lead; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: Blood lead; E-waste dismantling; Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH); Lead; Luteinizing hormone (LH); Testosterone (T)